IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 674 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that sedentary lifestyles 

are a public health issue and supporting the designation of a National 

Get Vertical Day to recognize the importance of preventing physical 

inactivity and encouraging adults to live physically active lifestyles. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 17, 2014 

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia (for himself, Ms. BASS, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. 

BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. 

CLAY, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. CLYBURN, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. JEFFRIES, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. 

LEWIS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Mr. 

THOMPSON of Mississippi, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, and Ms. WATERS) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

sedentary lifestyles are a public health issue and supporting the designation of a National Get Vertical Day 

to recognize the importance of preventing physical inactivity and encouraging adults to live physically active 

lifestyles. 

Whereas the prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically 

over the last 25 years; 


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•HRES 674 IH 

Whereas over one-third of adults in the United States are 

obese, and ethnic and racial minorities face disproportionately high obesity and diabetes rates; 

Whereas over 27 percent of all Americans 17 to 24 years of 

age (over 9,000,000 young men and women) are too 

heavy to join the military; 

Whereas only 22 percent of Americans report regular, sustained physical activity and only 5 percent of adults 

achieve the recommended 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity; 

Whereas sedentary lifestyles burden our economy and health 

care system, costing up to $24,000,000,000 in direct 

medical spending; 

Whereas sedentary lifestyles increase the likelihood of chronic 

diseases, including diabetes, which accounts for more 

than $98,000,000,000 in direct and indirect medical 

costs and lost productivity each year; 

Whereas it is estimated that physical inactivity is responsible 

for 1 in 10 deaths each year; 

Whereas many chronic diseases stemming from physical inactivity, including diabetes, are preventable and controllable 

through a number of modest lifestyle changes, including 

standing up or employing alternative physical movement 

for 5 minutes every hour in the workplace; 

Whereas the relevance of obesity and physical inactivity is 

much higher in people with disabilities than people without disabilities; 

Whereas walking 10,000 steps a day leads to a 90-percent reduction in heart attacks, a 30- to 70-percent reduction in 

cancer rates, a 50-percent reduction in type 2 diabetes, 

and a 70-percent reduction in the rate of strokes; and 


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Whereas the short- and long-term costs of reduced productivity, health care expenses, and negative health outcomes 

create the imperative for increased physical movement in 

the workplace: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of a National Get 

3 Vertical Day; 

4 (2) encourages employers and employees to ac5 knowledge the goals and ideals of a National Get 

6 Vertical Day by incorporating physical movement 

7 and appropriate programming into daily work activ8 ity; and 

9 (3) recognizes the serious long-term effects of 

10 sedentary lifestyles on the health of our Nation and 

11 urges continued coordination and cooperation be12 tween the Federal Government, State and local gov13 ernments, employers, community organizations, and 

14 health care providers to promote physical movement 

15 and active lifestyles. 

Æ 


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